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Blackfoot dealership lands Jeep sales |
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Friday, 03 July 2009 |
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By Emily Hone BLACKFOOT — 20th Century Ford announced Thursday it has acquired the Jeep dealership from Chrysler Motor Co.
20th Century co-owner/general manager Brian Mattson said they’re happy that negotiations for the franchise concluded last month. He wants car buyers to know there is money available for financing.
“We have twenty banking lines of credit and four with credit unions, plus we work with other credit unions in the area,” Mattson said. “We’re happy to be the new Jeep dealership.”
20th Century was one of the dealers to survive when Chrysler closed 700 dealerships in Idaho earlier this spring. He say’s his dealership was not targeted because 20th Century has been a stable business operating in a stable community.
The decision to close some dealerships and not others were based on sales and financial stability, Mattson said. “We’ve been blessed in Blackfoot with good customers and good financial institutions.”
20th Century sales manager Don Parris said they negotiated for the Jeep inventory from the Wackerli Group along with the parts, tools and accessories after it closed Blackfoot Motor last January, but but now that they’re the official Jeep dealer have more on order.
“We had used Jeeps for sale and always did service work,” Parris said, “but now that we have the franchise we can do warranty work as well.”
Parris said the compact vehicle that evolved from a work horse for the military during World War II into the most popular sports utility vehicle in the U.S. has its own best seller among the seven models — the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited — and there’s a brand new one sitting on the showroom floor just waiting for a buyer, along six new 2-door Wranglers on the new car lot.
The Wrangler Unlimited comes with a soft top or a three-piece hard top, he said, and the two are interchangeable.
“There are many imitators, “ Parris said, “but the Jeep provides the ultimate off-road experience, and we will do our best to keep those who want them supplied.”
When fully stocked, he said, the dealership will carry the full line of Jeep models — Grand Cherokee, Commander, Patriot, Liberty and Compass as well as Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 July 2009 )
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